Published: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.

A look of disappointment fell over Nikki Evans' face as she browsed the racks at JCPenney's at Blue Ridge Mall Saturday. Evans was shopping with her little sister, JaSha, and her son, Josiah Haynes.

For years, Evans and other family members made the trek to South Carolina for its sales-tax-free holiday - a weekend dedicated to tax-free expenditures on clothes, technology, school supplies and other school-related items - because North Carolina didn't have one.

When North Carolina introduced the holiday, Evans was elated because then she could stay home and shop and save gas money.

The state's sales-tax holiday was nixed in the state's new tax reform package passed last week, however, making this weekend the last holiday. When Evans found this out Saturday, she resigned herself to the old adage that history will repeat itself.

“I did it every year before we started,” she said. “I guess I'll be going back (to South Carolina) next year.”

Evans wasn't the only customer out and about on Saturday taking advantage of the holiday and feeling the sting of disappointment.

JCPenney's had a steady day of shoppers, assistant manager Britanny Kent said, but the murmurs were loud as customers talked about the dismissal of the holiday.

“I've heard a lot of people talk about that,” she said. “What a shame.”

Kelley Eyster was manning a register on Saturday. Eyster is feeling the effects on two fronts - not only is she a retail associate at the department store, but she is also a teacher in the Transylvania County school system.

It's affecting her customers and her own pocketbook when she goes to buy school supplies. A lot of the customers, she said, don't understand why the weekend sale is going away. She had to explain to some customers that the decision was made in Raleigh.

That decision is going to have deep economic affects, Eyster said.

“I think it's going to affect retailers and the industry for sure,” she said.

Kent said the Hendersonville store is contemplating bigger sales next year to compensate for the loss of the tax-free holiday. Those sales, Kent said, could be “deeper and bigger doorbusters.”

Something will need to fill that void, Evans said, because the tax-free weekend is one she looks forward to every year in August. Aside from school clothes and supplies, there are a lot of birthdays towards the end of the year in her family. She uses the weekend to shop for those and for Christmas presents.

“Tax –free weekend comes right when we need it,” she said. “(Not having it is) going to affect us a lot.”

<p>A look of disappointment fell over Nikki Evans' face as she browsed the racks at JCPenney's at Blue Ridge Mall Saturday. Evans was shopping with her little sister, JaSha, and her son, Josiah Haynes.</p><p>For years, Evans and other family members made the trek to South Carolina for its sales-tax-free holiday - a weekend dedicated to tax-free expenditures on clothes, technology, school supplies and other school-related items - because North Carolina didn't have one. </p><p>When North Carolina introduced the holiday, Evans was elated because then she could stay home and shop and save gas money. </p><p>The state's sales-tax holiday was nixed in the state's new tax reform package passed last week, however, making this weekend the last holiday. When Evans found this out Saturday, she resigned herself to the old adage that history will repeat itself. </p><p>“I did it every year before we started,” she said. “I guess I'll be going back (to South Carolina) next year.”</p><p>Evans wasn't the only customer out and about on Saturday taking advantage of the holiday and feeling the sting of disappointment. </p><p>JCPenney's had a steady day of shoppers, assistant manager Britanny Kent said, but the murmurs were loud as customers talked about the dismissal of the holiday. </p><p>“I've heard a lot of people talk about that,” she said. “What a shame.”</p><p>Kelley Eyster was manning a register on Saturday. Eyster is feeling the effects on two fronts - not only is she a retail associate at the department store, but she is also a teacher in the Transylvania County school system. </p><p>It's affecting her customers and her own pocketbook when she goes to buy school supplies. A lot of the customers, she said, don't understand why the weekend sale is going away. She had to explain to some customers that the decision was made in Raleigh. </p><p>That decision is going to have deep economic affects, Eyster said.</p><p>“I think it's going to affect retailers and the industry for sure,” she said.</p><p>Kent said the Hendersonville store is contemplating bigger sales next year to compensate for the loss of the tax-free holiday. Those sales, Kent said, could be “deeper and bigger doorbusters.”</p><p>Something will need to fill that void, Evans said, because the tax-free weekend is one she looks forward to every year in August. Aside from school clothes and supplies, there are a lot of birthdays towards the end of the year in her family. She uses the weekend to shop for those and for Christmas presents. </p><p>“Tax –free weekend comes right when we need it,” she said. “(Not having it is) going to affect us a lot.”</p><p>Reach Millwood at 828-694-7881 or at joey.millwood@blueridgenow.com.</p>